To mark Human Rights Day 2015 (10th December), Make Rights Real teamed up with The Irish Times and invited seven well-known authors to contribute a piece of original writing inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their work has been published under the banner of ‘Writing Rights’.

Sarah Bannan, Sara Baume, Martina Devlin, Martina Evans, Eoin McNamee, Nuala O’Connor and Anakana Schofield contributed work to ‘Writing Rights’, ranging from poetry to creative fiction to factual pieces. Each piece is accompanied by an original image, developed by the Make Rights Real team. Each author chose a different Article of the Universal Declaration as the starting point for their work, and each took a very different approach to ‘Writing Rights’. We hope you enjoy the results…

Please note: the views expressed in these works are the views of the author, and in no way reflect the views or opinions of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission or The Irish Times.

http://www.makerightsreal.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/dj_martina_evans.jpg12401754languagehttp://www.makerightsreal.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Header_logo.pnglanguage2015-12-10 00:30:412015-12-10 14:07:04Martina Evans: Fine Gael form a Coalition Government with Labour, March 1973

http://www.makerightsreal.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Book-Cover-Eoin-McNamee.png24803508languagehttp://www.makerightsreal.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Header_logo.pnglanguage2015-12-10 00:03:402015-12-10 14:11:22Eoin McNamee: Not in History. Not in Another Country

Every day, 800 women die from causes related to pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum with 99% of all maternal deaths occurring in developing countries. Maternal mortality is higher in women living in rural areas and among poorer communities.

Did you know?

Women in Ireland were allowed to vote for the first time in the general election of 1918. However, they had to be over 30 years of age and land-owners, a restriction that wasn’t lifted until 10 years later in 1928.

Did you know?

In Ireland, the highest rates of discrimination are reported by people from minority ethnic backgrounds and unemployed people (SOURCE: CSO).

Did you know?

There are 168 million children worldwide trapped in child labour, accounting for almost 11 percent of the overall child population.

Did you know?

The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to protect future generations from the repeat of gross human rights abuses that took place during World War II, particularly the Holocaust.

Did you know?

Up to 1976, women in Ireland were unable to own their homes outright. The laws in force at the time meant women had no right to share the family home and a woman’s husband could sell their property without her consent.

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The most common grounds identified by people who experience discrimination in Ireland are age and race (SOURCE: CSO).

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The gender pay gap in Ireland is 14.4 per cent. In other words, women in Ireland are paid over 14 per cent less than men.

Did you know?

From September 2016, men in Ireland will be entitled – by law – to two weeks of paternity leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

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19% of adults in Ireland say they have no understanding of their rights under Irish equality law (SOURCE: CSO).

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission was set up in November 2014 as an independent public body. The Commission's goal is an inclusive Ireland where human rights and equality are fully enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

The Make Rights Real public awareness campaign aims to show how human rights and equality are relevant to all our lives and help people understand their rights.
Make Rights Real is an initiative of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
Make Rights Real is co-funded by the PROGRESS Programme of the European Union.